Texans’ Manning bent on businesslike visit to former team

When the Bears drafted him in the second round in 2006, Danieal Manning wanted the fairy tale.

“It’s almost like a marriage,” Manning said. “You meet a person, you get married, plan to be with that person for the rest of your life. … So my mindset was stuck on, ‘This is the team.’ ”

That made the breakup difficult for Manning two years ago. After playing four years under his rookie contract, then a year under a restricted-free-agent tender, Manning became a free agent, and it didn’t please him.

“They made an offer, they really did, but not a fair-value offer in my opinion,” Manning said. “I didn’t think it was fair enough to me and what I’ve done for that team. But in all honesty, they feel like it was the best deal for them. They’re going to do what’s best for them, and I feel like I’m doing what’s best for me.”

With time to think about it, Manning’s view on his departure from Chicago matured. The Texans signed the safety to a four-year, $20 million contract before the 2011 season. But even though time has helped Manning view his departure from Chicago maturely, his emotions are complicated. This weekend’s trip back to Chicago, his first since leaving the Bears organization, feels businesslike — for now.

“(It’s) another opponent that’s in our way that we’ve got to play, and we’ve gotta prepare a certain way for this team — that’s how I’m going to look at it,” Manning said. “It just so happens that I used to play for this team.

“All that can change when I get there. I’ve never experienced this before. Right now, it’s not personal. I’m treating them like I did the beginning of the season when we opened up with Miami. This is Miami.”

Manning went through a transformation during his time in Chicago. He felt validated by the fact that a storied organization selected him. In his first game as a rookie, he intercepted Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre and ran to the sideline telling Bears coach Lovie Smith: “This is why you drafted me.” The Bears went to the Super Bowl that year.

Coming out of Division II Abilene Christian, Manning needed guidance. He got it from Smith, who, along with the rest of the Bears staff, taught Manning what it meant to be a pro. Smith had gone to Manning’s high school in Corsicana to work him out personally during the predraft process.

But Manning wasn’t always sure the attention he got was a good thing.

“He took me under his wing in, like, year three when I was playing safety and nickel, and he pretty much made me like his project,” Manning said. “(During) meetings, I would leave the safeties, defensive backs, and I would leave with Lovie. I took it as they’re going to try to cut me. If I’m meeting with the coach like this, I’m not getting the job done.”

That wasn’t the case for Manning. The Bears kept him two more years, one under a restricted-free-agent tender. During the 2010 season, fifth-year players were restricted free agents.

But when it came time for a second contract, the Bears made a different business decision.

“I wasn’t pleased with how, at that time, I was treated,” Manning said. “But it took me a lot to understand the business side of it. Now I understand that.”

When Manning spoke about Chicago, he used the phrase “go back home.” But when he thought more about it, he corrected himself. Leaving Chicago meant getting to come back to the state of Texas, where he grew up and played college football.

That move felt more like going back home. And it brought with it a completely different kind of challenge.

“You love to be a part of [the Bears’] tradition, what they’re having, but here I’m actually starting a tradition,” Manning said. “Having success, our team being turned around, a new franchise, being a part of what they’re doing here, I’m so blessed.”